Composite garment for exercising

ABSTRACT

A composite garment particularly suited for exercise includes an inner garment connected at the waistband with an outer garment. The inner element includes a torso element made of a body control material such as Lycra® to provide full body control circumferentially about a wearer and a finishing element made of a lacy material and terminating with a scalloped edge to prevent the formation of a panty line under the outer garment. The outer garment is also made of a stretchable fabric that contours the body and is comfortable to wear.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention pertains to a composite garment consisting of a pair of exercise pants and a built in undergarment. Both components are made of stretching fabrics that provide muscle control while allowing freedom of movement of the legs. Moreover, the undergarment is constructed to preclude the visibility of a panty line.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Exercising has become a major past-time in the US and throughout the world. This activity became popular for various reasons, including weight loss and improvements in mental and physical health. In fact, some forms of exercise have also become social events, and this in turn brought on a need for exercising garments that not only provide high performance but, at the same time, look good as well.

However, as types of exercise and physical fitness activities have evolved and expanded, appropriate clothing for such activities has not kept pace. Women in particular are interested in clothing that is concurrently functional to the activity, comfortable to wear, provides body support, and creates an attractive appearance for the wearer. A garment that may be used for both exercise purposes and for additional social circumstances is also desired. For a variety of fitness activities, separate inner and outer garments are undesirable for numerous reasons, including lack of comfort during the physical activity. A single (or composite) garment, which includes both an inner and an outer garment is desired for reasons of exercise comfort and has been available for particular uses, such as for running. However, these garments are generally used for unique exercise applications and are not functionally appropriate to other exercise and fitness programs. For example, running shorts are not appropriate for applications such as yoga because they do not concurrently allow for the wearer's requisite flexibility, do not provide the requisite support, or are unsightly for the desired purpose.

When it comes to participation in group fitness activities, including yoga and pilates, comfort, support, and appearance are all important considerations. For these activities, a garment that provides physical support is important for successful participation. In particular, the need exists to provide for midriff, hip, and buttock support, similar to what a girdle might provide, yet retain the requisite flexibility for the exercise needs. As the aging population becomes more exercise-active, the need for an appropriately flexible garment that also provide such support grows. For example, when participating in yoga or pilates, body flexibility is a necessity, so a girdle would be too restrictive, but the support provided by a girdle remains a priority. Hard stays within the garment would also be counter productive.

Also, many types of garments become dysfunctional under the stresses of many exercise regimes by “creeping” uncomfortably on the body. To avoid the creep, some garments include a brief that has a finished bottom. Many women are uncomfortable with the visible appearance of “panty lines” and wish to have the form fitting undergarment without the visible lines.

Various types of exercising garments, including garments having multiple components, are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,514 to Safrit, U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,058 to Mueller, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,288 to Browder all disclose a combined garment having an outer and an inner component. U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,062 to Amsel and U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,086 to Woodward disclose garments with some form of body control. However, none of these references disclose an exercising garment that provides both outstanding body control and an invisible panty lining.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention merges the requirements for a high performance exercise garment with the need for a garment that is esthetically pleasing, and therefore socially acceptable. The subject garment has a composite structure including an inner and outer garment, with the inner garment providing the requisite support yet also providing the requisite flexibility. In addition, the inner garment includes leggings that are finished with a jagged or scalloped edge to both mitigate creep and avoid panty lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a combined garment constructed in accordance with this invention as worn by an individual;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the garment taken along section lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a partial front view of the inner garment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention is a single combined garment 10, including an inner garment 20 and an outer garment 30. The two garments 20, 30 are attached with a common elasticized waistband 12. This elasticized waistband 12 can be made of one or more suitable stretchable material and may include interior or exterior elastic portions, including a plurality of elastomeric yarn or an elastic waistband. The exposed portion should be suitable for public view and in aesthetic conformity to the outer garment. In the preferred embodiment, the exposed portion of the waistband is an extended and folded-over portion of the outer garment with the inner garment and an internal elastic waistband 40 within it with both the elastic waistband and inner garment sewn to the outer garment with the elasticized material within the outer garment's formed cavity. Other embodiments may include a separate elasticized member which is sewn to the remaining portions of the combined garment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the preferred embodiment of the inner garment 20 includes three distinct but interconnected portions—a torso element 21, a crotch element 22, and a finishing element 23—with all elements sewn together through traditional sewing methods.

In the preferred embodiment, the torso element 21 is composed of Lycra® or similar material such that it is form fitting and stretchable to the wearer but retaining reversionary characteristics. When worn, torso element 21 encircles the wearer, covers the wearer's lower torso, and extends beyond the wearer's buttocks to cover the upper portion of both legs. The element's material allows it to stretch in conformity with a wearer's body while providing midriff, hip, and buttock support. When worn while standing, element 21 appears to form an inverted letter Y, as distinct from a more traditional fitted brief. The torso element 21 includes an upper waist portion which, in the preferred embodiment, is sewn to the interior of waistband 10. The crotch element 22 is used to cover the area of the body where the inner legs join the trunk. In the preferred embodiment, the element is composed of cotton such that the wearer is not prone to chaffing from normal use. In other embodiments, the element is composed of cotton-like material. In the preferred embodiment, element 22 is sewn to element 21 using traditional sewing methods but may be attached in other ways. Element 22 may be made of the same material as element 21 and may have the same color. Both elements are preferably knit fabrics sized and shaped to provide the body control described above.

A finishing element 23 is attached in full circle to the ends of each of the leg portions of torso element 21 by a sewing 25. In the preferred embodiment, this finishing element 23 is composed of lace or a lace-like material that is elastic so that it conforms to the leg of the wearer. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom of element 23 includes an uneven or scalloped edge 24. Element 23 is thinner then elements 21, 22. Moreover, the element 23 can be made with an open weave having a plurality of openings (not shown) forming esthetically pleasing designs. This kind of weave further insures that the element 23 is very thin as compared to the thickness of elements 21, 22.

In the preferred embodiment, element 23 is attached at its top through sewing of its inner portion to the outer portion of the inner leggings of the elements 21 and 22 with element 23 being sewn to the outside of elements 21 and 22.

In the preferred embodiment, the outer garment 30 is composed of a single layer of knit fabric made of spandex fibers or other similar material to allow the fabric to stretch with wearer movement, yet remain form-fitting and contouring to the wearer. Preferably the fabric is knit in a manner that allows air and water vapor to flow through the fabric thereby insuring that the wearer does not get too hot during an exercising session.

In the preferred embodiment, the outer garment 30 includes form fitting leg portions which extend below the knees, but additional embodiments could also extend to the ankles, be shorter and not extend to the knees, or be more free-flowing, such as similar to a skirt, traditional Capri pants, or culottes.

Importantly, the outer garment 30 is several times thicker then the inner garment 20, and especially, its element 23. Referring to FIG. 2, as the outer garment 30 extends downwardly over the bottom portion of inner garment 20 in region A, two transitions take place. The first transition is defined by sewing 25 between the elements 21/22 and 23 (sewing 25). This sewing is made in a manner that insures that the overall thickness of the garment 20 across the sewing 25 changes gradually. As a result, the slope of outer garment 23 as it passes over the sewing 25 remains does not change abruptly and therefore no line is visible therein to indicate the location of sewing 25.

Moreover, as the outer garment 30 flows downwardly in region A, it passes the second transition zone defined by the end of inner garment 20. In this zone, the scalloped edge 24 of element 23 and the thin fabric making up element 23 cooperate to insure that again, the slope of the outer garment 30 changes slowly enough that no line appears at this second transition either. In other words, the transitions in region A are smooth and no line is seen to indicate where the inner garment 20 terminates.

Obviously numerous modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A composite garment for wearing on the lower torso comprising: an outer garment having a waistband and made of a stretchable flexible material; and an inner garment coupled to said outer garment at said waistband, said inner garment including a torso element made of a body control fabric and a finishing element extending downwardly of said torso element and having a generally scalloped lower edge.
 2. The composite garment of claim 1 wherein said torso element is substantially thicker then said finishing element to provide a smooth transition region under said outer garment.
 3. The composite garment of claim 2 wherein said waistband is formed by folding the outer garment over the inner garment.
 4. The composite garment as in claim 1, where said finishing element is made of a frilly material.
 5. The composite garment as in claim 1, where said finishing element is made of a lacy material.
 6. A composite garment comprising: an inner garment including a torso element made of a flexible stretchable material providing body control when worn and a finishing element extending around the legs and attached to said torso element; and an outer garment having a waistband and being made of a body contouring material, said outer garment being thicker then said inner garment and forming a smooth transition zone as it extends over said inner garment.
 7. The composite garment of claim 6 wherein said torso element includes two leggings and said finishing element has two corresponding portions extending downwardly from said legging.
 8. The composite garment of claim 6 wherein said torso element is thicker then said finishing element.
 9. The composite garment of claim 6 wherein said finishing element is thinner then said torso element.
 10. The composite garment of claim 6 wherein said finishing element has a bottom end that has a scalloped shape to prevent the formation of a panty line when worn.
 11. The composite garment of claim 6 wherein said inner garment is a panty.
 12. The composite garment of claim 6 wherein said outer garment forms a pair of pants. 